Cornerback Brent Grimes answered the question about his health in a resounding way Tuesday when the Dolphins held their first OTA practice of the spring.

When the Dolphins signed the 2010 Pro Bowl selection as a free agent in late March, there was a lot of discussion as to when Grimes would be ready to practice after the Achilles injury he sustained in the 2012 season opener.

Grimes not only practiced with his teammates on Tuesday, he also flashed his coverage ability.

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"I liked him as a player before I ever got here,” Wallace said after practice. “He's probably one of the most athletic guys I’ve sever seen. He can run, he can jump. He plays a lot bigger than his height (5-10).” ...

Healthy, he's arguably the best CB we'll have seen here since Madison and Surtain... I just hope he doesn't overdo that Achilles...it's takes a while and impressing in gym shorts isn't where I want to see him impress me...

Provided he's 100% recovered from his injuries, he can be a shutdown corner. Along with the hopefully improved pass rush that we'll have this year, I don't think that a top 5 defense is out of the question this season.

One very good sign for Miami is new cornerback Brent Grimes looked solid in practice. Grimes showed flashes of why he made the Pro Bowl two years ago by staying around the football and batting down several passes. Coming off season-ending Achilles surgery, Grimes looked healthy and fluid. He worked with the first-team defense most of the day along with veteran cornerback Richard Marshall, who is also coming off a back injury. “It looks like they’ve been moving well,” Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said of his two corners. “They feel good physically and I’m excited about watching the tape and getting to look at it.” Philbin also described the cornerback competition as “real wide open.”

_________________I don't need to be motivated by anybody. Never have. - Dan Marino